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Kostis Palamas

COUNTY: Achaea MUNICIPALITY: Patras

Clouds
19.56ºC

Century of Birth

19

City of Birth

Patra

TL;DR

: One of the most important Greek poets, writer of the Olympic Games hymn, nominated 14 times for the Nobel Prize and winner of numerous awards.

Kostis Palamas is one of the most important Greek poets. He was born in Patra in 1859, however, he lost his parents at young age and as a result he grew up in Messolongi, his special hometown.

He studied Law in Athens and at the same time he made his first steps in poetry. From this time on he never stopped writing and publishing. In 1896 he was entrusted with the composition of the Olympic Games hymn. His works such as “The Grave” (after the death of his son), the “Eyes of my Soul”, the “Motionless Life” and especially the “Twelve Lays of the Gypsy” constitute some of the emblematic literary masterpieces that deeply influenced the course of Greek poetry. Palamas was 14 times nominated for the Nobel Prize in Literature. On February 27, 1943, day of his funeral in front of the wondering eyes of the German conquerors, thousands of people followed him to his last residence, while singing the National Anthem.

Kostis Palamas was, besides a poet, a literary critic, an essayist and a novelist. He was awarded numerous times and in 1930 he was elected President of the Academy of Athens.